Kieran Foran celebrated his first game for Parramatta, with the Eels scoring a stirring 20-16 NRL upset win over an error-riddled North Queensland.

The Cowboys on Saturday night were a shadow of the side who lifted last year’s trophy, producing one of their worst performances in 12 months with an uncharacteristically jittery outing with the ball and ill-discipline in defence.

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They completed just 63% of their sets, turned the ball over 10 times and gave away nine penalties.

A vocal crowd of 12,194 witnessed Foran’s first outing in club colours and, while he took more than an hour to take his first run with the ball, he finished strongly and played a hand in two of their three tries.

However, the victory was soured by a possible broken forearm to hooker Nathan Peats, who immediately left the field after a heavy collision with Jason Taumalolo in the second half.

Up 14-6 at the break courtesy of a Kenny Edwards’ try – set up by Foran – on the stroke of half-time, the Cowboys’ Justin O’Neill reduced the deficit to four off a Johnathan Thurston pass early in the second half.

But that was one of the rare times the Cowboys entered the Eels’ zone, with numerous attacking raids brought undone by a decisive and energetic Parramatta defence.

At one stage in the second half, Parramatta prop Junior Paulo rocked Thurston with a hit that shook Pirtek Stadium and lifted his team-mates to another gear.

A crashing try to Brad Takairangi in the 62nd minute – also assisted by Foran – kicked their lead out to 10 before Taumalolo crashed over in the final minute to set up a grandstand finish. But the Eels’ defence held on, scoring what could be a season-defining win.

Aaron Gray scored a first-half hat-trick in the Rabbitohs’ romp against the Knights at ANZ Stadium. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

South Sydney continued their early-season onslaught, smashing Newcastle 48-6 at ANZ Stadium. The Knights were diabolical while the Bunnies continued to hum after racking up their second straight big score to be the surprise early pace setters after two rounds.

Even without halfback Adam Reynolds and back-rower John Sutton missing, the Rabbitohs crossed for nine tries including a hat-trick to Aaron Gray. Five-eighth Cody Walker, playing just his second NRL game and only in the side because of Reynolds’ (broken jaw) absence, pulled the strings for his team, producing pinpoint cut-out passes to set up two of Gray’s three first-half tries.

The 26-year-old Walker is in a two-way battle with Luke Keary to wear the No6 jersey when Reynolds returns in five weeks and neither could be faulted after another emphatic victory to start 2016. It follows their thrashing of the Roosters 42-10 last week.

The Knights meanwhile were atrocious, completing just 20 of 30 sets, missing 29 tackles and making 12 handling errors. They weren’t without their chances, getting over the line four times but were either held up or dropped it with a try begging.

Souths’ inspirational lock Sam Burgess was back to his rampaging best, producing a spectacular flick pass to Paul Carter to set up Keary after minutes earlier spiralling a sublime cut-out ball for Gray’s second. On top of that he ran for 153 metres from 21 carries and made 25 tackles.

The game was effectively over at half-time as the Rabbitohs opened up a 24-0 lead at the break before an Alex Johnston double in the first nine minutes after the resumption sealed it.

The Knights are now under immense pressure after winning just four of their last 22 matches and questions will be asked why prop Kade Snowden and winger Sione Mata’utia were omitted as the young side struggled to match it with the Rabbitohs in every aspect.

Two tries for Josh Papalii got the Raiders back into the game against the Roosters after the half-time break at GIO Stadium. Photograph: Stefan Postles/Getty Images

An injury-hit Canberra kept the Sydney Roosters winless in 2016 with a stunning 21-20 come-from-behind win. Halfback Sam Williams kicked the winning field goal with less than three minutes on the clock to snatch the victory at GIO Stadium, their second in two games of the new NRL season.

The odds were against the Raiders, who trailed 16-6 at half-time and down to just 15 men. They lost veteran Shaun Fensom in the opening minute to concussion and their third playmaker in two games, Lachlan Croker, to a shoulder injury at the break.

They also were without Joey Leilua who was sinbinned for punching Dylan Napa, Leilua responding to being struck in the face with a swinging arm and left bleeding from the mouth.

The Roosters had dominated much of the game with a glut of possession, scoring three tries in the first half via Latrell Mitchell, Blake Ferguson and Aidan Guerra. But a double to enforcer Josh Papalii early in the second half got the Raiders back into the game.

After the Roosters hit back on the hour mark through Jayden Nikorima, skipper Jarrod Croker scored and converted to level it up 20-20 with eight minutes to go – minus Leilua.

Trent Robinson’s men had a chance to go in front, but a 40-20 to hooker Josh Hodgson – forced to play in the halves following young Croker’s injury – with less than four minutes remaining put the hosts on the front foot. Williams, called in to replace the injured Aidan Sezer (eye socket), kicked the winner moments later.

The Raiders, who beat Penrith at home last week, will be sweating on Lachlan Croker’s fitness, however, given the debutant had come in to replace Blake Austin (knee) at five-eighth.

It was the Roosters’ second successive defeat, having been smashed 42-10 by South Sydney in round one. They haven’t won in the nation’s capital since 2010.